In re Application of Columbus S. Power Co. (Slip Opinion)

2016 Ohio 1608, 67 N.E.3d 734, 147 Ohio St. 3d 439
CourtOhio Supreme Court
DecidedApril 21, 2016
Docket2013-0521
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 2016 Ohio 1608 (In re Application of Columbus S. Power Co. (Slip Opinion)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Application of Columbus S. Power Co. (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 1608, 67 N.E.3d 734, 147 Ohio St. 3d 439 (Ohio 2016).

Opinions

Kennedy, J.

Summary

{¶ 1} This cause arises from the Public Utilities Commission’s (“PUCO’s”) modification and approval of the second electric-security plan of the American Electric Power operating companies, Ohio Power Company and Columbus Southern Power Company.1 The case below was a major proceeding in which the commission authorized new generation rates for the companies (collectively, “AEP”). Five parties appealed.2 AEP also filed a cross-appeal. In total, the remaining parties have raised eight propositions of law that challenge various elements of the commission’s orders (the original order and two entries on rehearing) approving the modified electric-security plan.

{¶ 2} After review, we conclude that the parties have demonstrated two errors: one on appeal and one on cross-appeal. Therefore, for the reasons that follow, we affirm the commission’s orders in part and reverse them in part and remand the cause for further consideration.

Facts and Procedural Background

{¶ 3} R.C. 4928.141(A) requires electric-distribution utilities to make a “standard service offer” of generation service to consumers in one of two ways: through a “market-rate offer” (under R.C. 4928.142) or an “electric security plan” (under R.C. 4928.143). The market-rate offer, as the name implies, sets rates using a competitive-bidding process to harness market forces.

[441]*441{¶ 4} On January 27, 2011, AEP filed an application with the commission, seeking approval of an electric-security plan (“ESP”). R.C. 4928.143 does not provide a detailed mechanism for establishing rates under an ESP. Plans may contain any number of provisions in a variety of categories so long as the plan is “more favorable in the aggregate” than the expected results of a market-rate offer. R.C. 4928.143(C)(1). But the law does contain certain limits, some of which are at issue in this case.

The Commission’s “Capacity Case” Order

{¶ 5} The ESP case proceeded along a parallel — and for a time a consolidated — path with Pub. Util. Comm. No. 10-2929-EL-UNC (the “Capacity Case”). The Capacity Case was argued before the court on December 15, 2015 (case Nos. 2012-2098 and 2011-0228). On December 30, 2015, the court issued an order holding this case for a joint release with the Capacity Case. See 144 Ohio St.3d 1438, 2015-Ohio-5468, 43 N.E.3d 450.

The Commission’s ESP Order

{¶ 6} In the order under review in this appeal, the commission approved AEP’s modified ESP. Pub. Util. Comm. Nos. 11-346-EL-SSO, 11-348-EL-SSO, 11-349-EL-AAM, and 11-350-EL-AAM (Aug. 8, 2012) (the “ESP Order”). As part of the ESP, the commission approved a mechanism called the “Retail Stability Rider” (“RSR”). The RSR is “nonbypassable,” meaning that it is paid by both shopping and nonshopping customers in AEP’s service territory.

{¶ 7} The RSR serves two purposes. First, the commission determined that the RSR would be used as the mechanism for AEP to recover its deferred capacity costs from the Capacity Case. The commission authorized AEP to recover a portion of those deferred costs during the ESP period. The commission further instructed AEP to file an application after the ESP ends that if approved, would allow the company to recover any remaining deferred capacity costs, starting on June 1, 2015, and continuing over the following 32 months.

{¶ 8} Second, in addition to serving as the mechanism to recover deferred capacity costs, the RSR was intended to provide AEP with sufficient revenue to maintain its financial integrity and ability to attract capital during the ESP. According to the commission, the- RSR was authorized under R.C. 4928.143(B)(2)(d) as a charge that promotes stable retail-electric-service prices and ensures customer certainty regarding retail electric service. ESP Order at 31-38.

{¶ 9} Appeals of the ESP Order were filed by the Kroger Company, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (“OCC”), and the Ohio Energy Group. AEP filed a cross-appeal. Appellants primarily challenge the commission’s authorization of the RSR. In AEP’s cross-appeal, the company contends that the [442]*442commission erred in setting the threshold for the significantly-excessive-earnings test and also violated the company’s statutory right to withdraw the modified ESP.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

{¶ 10} “R.C. 4903.13 provides that a PUCO order shall be reversed, vacated, or modified by this court only when, upon consideration of the record, the court finds the order to be unlawful or unreasonable.” Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. v. Pub. Util. Comm., 104 Ohio St.3d 530, 2004-Ohio-6767, 820 N.E.2d 885, ¶ 50. We will not reverse or modify a PUCO decision as to questions of fact when the record contains sufficient probative evidence to show that the commission’s decision was not manifestly against the weight of the evidence and was not so clearly unsupported by the record as to show misapprehension, mistake, or willful disregard of duty. Monongahela Power Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm., 104 Ohio St.3d 571, 2004-Ohio-6896, 820 N.E.2d 921, ¶ 29. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating that the commission’s decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence or is clearly unsupported by the record. Id.

{¶ 11} Although this court has “complete and independent power of review as to all questions of law” in appeals from the commission, Ohio Edison Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm., 78 Ohio St.3d 466, 469, 678 N.E.2d 922 (1997), we may rely on the expertise of a state agency in interpreting a law where “highly specialized issues” are involved and “where agency expertise would, therefore, be of assistance in discerning the presumed intent of our General Assembly.” Consumers’ Counsel v. Pub. Util. Comm., 58 Ohio St.2d 108, 110, 388 N.E.2d 1370 (1979).

Discussion

The Appeals of Appellants: OCC, Kroger, and Ohio Energy Group

{¶ 12} Appellants, taken together, raise five propositions of law, each containing several supporting arguments. The issues involving the RSR are the most prominent and generally relate to each other, so we will discuss them first.

I. Challenges to the commission’s approval of the RSR

{¶ 13} Appellants raise several challenges to the commission’s approval of the RSR. After review, we find that one argument has merit.

A. OCC Proposition of Law No. 2: Whether the commission’s order is unlawful or unreasonable because it allows the company to collect unlawful transition revenue or its equivalent through the RSR

{¶ 14} OCC argues that the commission erred in approving the RSR because it permits AEP to recover unlawful “transition revenues” in the form of nonfuel generation revenues, including capacity revenues, that it will lose under its ESP. [443]*443OCC claims that because the statutory time period to recover transition revenue has ended, the commission lacked authority to approve the RSR, since it allowed the company to recover costs that are otherwise unrecoverable in the competitive generation market. We find this argument well taken.

1.

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Bluebook (online)
2016 Ohio 1608, 67 N.E.3d 734, 147 Ohio St. 3d 439, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-application-of-columbus-s-power-co-slip-opinion-ohio-2016.